p. 398 | Russian America

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 3, 1867

Russian America.

THE FORMAL TRANSFER OF THE TERRITORY TO THE UNITED STATES—INTERESTING CEREMONIES.

NEW-ARCHANGEL, October, via Victoria, Nov. 10, and Swinomish, W. I., Nov. 11.—The formal transfer and delivery of Russian America to the United States Government took place to-day by Capt. Pestrechoff, Acting Commissioner on behalf of the Russian Government, and Major-Gen. Rousseau on behalf of the United States.

At 3 o'clock P. M., a battalion of United States troops under command of Major Charles O. Wood of the Ninth Infantry, was drawn up in line in front of the Governor's residence, where the transfer took place. By 3½ o'clock a large concourse of people had assembled, comprising Americans, Russians of all classes, Creoles and Indians, all eager witnesses of the ceremonies. Precisely at the last named hour the Russian forts and fleet fired salutes in honor of the lowering of the Russian flag; but the flag would not come down. In lowering it tore its entire width, close by the halyards, and floated from the crosstrees, some 40 feet from the ground. Three Russian sailors attempted to ascend the inch and a half guy-ropes supporting the flag-staff, but each failed to reach his national emblem. A fourth ascended in a boatswain's chair, seized the flag and threw it in a direction directly beneath him; but the motion of the wind carried it off, and caused a sensation in every heart. Five minutes after the lowering of the Russian flag the Stars and Stripes went gracefully up, floating handsomely and free, Mr. George Dowell Rousseau having the honor of flinging the flag to the breeze, the United States steamers Ossipee and Resaca at the same time honoring the event by firing salutes.

As the Russian flag was lowered Capt. Pestrechoff stepped forward and addressed Gen. Rousseau as follows:

GENERAL: As Commissioner of his Imperial Majesty, the Emperor of Russia, I now transfer and deliver the territory of Russian America, ceded by his Majesty to the United States.

Gen. Rousseau, in response, as the American flag ascended, said:

CAPTAIN: As Commissioner on behalf of the United States Government, I receive and accept the same accordingly.

The Commissioners spoke in a tone of common conversation, and were only heard by Gov. Makesatoff, Gen. Jeff. C. Davis, Capt. Kuskol, and a few others who formed the troupe. Several ladies witnessed the ceremonies, among them Princess Makesatoff, Mrs. Gen. Davis, and Mrs. Major Wood. The Princess wept audibly as the Russian flag went down.

The transfer was conducted in a purely diplomatic and business-like manner, neither bouquets nor speech-making following. The entire transaction was concluded in a few hours, the Ossipee, with the Commissioner on board, steaming into the harbor at 11 o'clock this forenoon, and at 4 o'clock in the afternoon, a dozen American flags float over the newly-born American city of Sitka.